Slicer having a stationary cutter



W. L. WHEELWRIGHT SLICER HAVING A STATIONARY CUTTER May 16, 1950 2. Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 26, 1-946 INVENTOR. WWW

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I I I y 6, 1950 w. L. WHEELWRIGHT SLICER HAVING A STATIONARY CUTTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 26, 1946 INVENTOR.

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Patented May 16, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SLICER HAVING A STATIONARY CUTTER Walter L. Wheelwright, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application September 26, 1946, Serial No. 699,413

4 Claims. (Cl. 146-171) This invention relates to a slicer, and more particularly to a slicer adapted for slicing vegetables and fruits.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide such a slicer which can be used to rapidly reduce a whole fruit or vegetable into slices of uniform thickness and in which each slice is smooth and of attractive appearance when served.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a slicer which can be readily adjusted to produce slices of any desired thickness.

Another object is to provide such a slicer which can readily be fitted over a pan or bowl of any usual shape, which serves as a support for the slicer and as a receiver for the slices.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a slicer which is sturdy in construction and which, in particular, will maintain any set adjustment until deliberately readjusted.

Another aim of the invention is to provide such a slicer which can be produced of sheet metal at low cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top elevation of a slicer embodying the present invention and shown as mounted on the rim of a generally rectangularly shaped pan.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the slicer removed from the pan.

Fig. 4 is a vertical, longitudinal generally central section therethrough.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5-5 Fi 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged view similar to Fig. 5 and in particular showing the rivet and slot connection between th two sections of the slicer.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the slicer embodying the present invention is shown as being mounted on the beaded rim I!) of a pan II which is of generally rectangular shape and is also shown as provided with four feet I2 which can be made of rubber or the like to prevent slipping of the pan on the work table while the slicer is being used.

This slicer is shown as comprising two main sheet metal sections l3 and I4 which are pivotally connected and vertically adjustable with reference to each other to adjust the slicer to the desired thickness of the slice removed by the knife or knives provided on one of the sections. A feature of the invention resides in the provision of separate means whereby the upper surfaces of these two sections are maintained in parallelism with each other at all adjustments so that a whole fruit or vegetable can readily and rapidly be reduced into a plurality of parallel- 2 sided slices, each of which is of uniform thickness throughout.

The section I 3 is preferably made of a single piece of sheet metal formed to provide a top plate IS, a depending end flange i 6 and depending side flanges l1. These side flanges, at the end of the section opposite from the depending end flange l6, extend longitudinally a substantial distance beyond the end of the top plate l5 and are also formed to extend downwardly to form a pair of depending cars 19. A space 20 is also preferably provided between the depending end flange l6 and each of these side flanges I! for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

At its edge 2| opposite from the depending end flange [6 the top plate [5 is shown as being V-shaped in plan with side extensions 22 which extend alongside the upper edge of the correspondin side flange H to a point short of the extremity thereof. Along this edge 2| and the side extensions 22, the top plate I5 is also offset downwardly to provide a continuous offset flange for mounting the blade or blades 23 of the slicer, the degree of offset of this continuous flange being such as to render the top face of the blade or blades 23 coplanar with the supper surface of the top plate [5. The blade or blades 23 can be of any suitable form and are shown as being in the form of a pair of blades secured in V-formation to the continuous offset flange by spot welds 25 so as to provide a V-shaped horizontal cutting edge 26 which is coplanar with the upper surface of the topplate l5, as best shown in Fig. 1. Theseblades 23 extend beyond the extremities of the extensions 22 so that their effective cutting edge extends from one side flange I! to the opposite side flange II.

The section I4 is preferably made of a, single piece of sheet metal formed to provide a top plate 30, a depending end flange 3| and depending side flanges 32. The end of the section l4 opposite from the depending end flange 3| is of V-shaped form in plan to generally conform to the V-shaped cutting edge 26 of the knife blades 23. This V-shaped end is also preferably reinforced by a, V-shaped depending flange 33, the extremities of which form forward continuations of the side flanges 32, as best shown in Fig. 4. A space 36 is provided between the depending end flange 3| and each of the side flanges 32, for a purpose which will presently appear, and the top plate 30 is also shown as provided with a plurality of transversely spaced upwardly projecting beads 31, these beads being for the purpose of facilitating the sliding of the fruit or vegetable to be sliced along the upper surface of the top plate 30 by relieving suction tendencies and into engagement with the cutting edge 26 of the blades.

The flanges 32 of the section I4 are closely fitted between the depending ears IQ of the section 13 and are pivotally and slidingly connected to these cars by sliding rivets 38. Each of these rivets is showmas havingia. largerheadfis whichis slidinglyifitted. againsi'kzthe externaliiace. of the corresponding ear l9 and as having a hollow stem extending through a vertical slot 40 provided in the corresponding side flange 32 of the section 14. also shown as extending through a* washer- 4 2 which is in contact with the inner face of the The inner extremitybfthi's stem'is" corresponding side flange 32 and is upset=so asto hold the rivet in position. The stem of the rivet is also provided adjacent its head 39 with a circular enlargement 43Jcorresponding, to the. h

width "of theslbt 40 andserving toiprevent the" head f-rom binding against the corresponding.

ear" I9" is 'formedto provide a series ;of" uniformly spaced "serrations or. notches '46 which determine the adjustmentbf the relative vertical "positionsof the section 1'3 'and""l"4',l'therebyta determine thethi'ckne'ss'ofthe' sliceirem'o've'd fromthe fruit or vegetable. "For "thispurposeeach of. thefsi'de fian'ges'sz Of the section14fisformedltoprovide a tooth 48.-whi'ch is shown 'asi'being struck'out' from the body :of'the corresponding: side I flange 32 and" as'havin'g" a horizontally" extending keted as a unit with'lsu'ch. a.r'eceptacle,"the receptable can be 'ofg'enerzilly r'ecta'ngulanform' as shown inFi'gs. 1 and T2, jandtlie .oppositeextremities 'of. "the. rim 10" of this receptaclecan beengagedin the notches or ispaces 2 0","36 provided between. the end Jdepending flanges l 6 .and "31 of, thissli'cer and-the corresponding, side flanges IT, 32. g In the event howevenfthat" the housewife desires"to fit theslicer .upon a receptaclenf sniallersi'ze'or desires .to'fit'tl ie same upon a round "or :oval bowl: the sidelfi'anges' 32 are 'pro'- vided with notches""andthe lower edges 5|"0f the side flanges :l Tare'straight andf parallel'with the top, p1'atel5i In'the operation "of theslicer; the" housewife determines'thethicknessoffthe slices'desireda'nd" makes a corresponding"adjustmentof thetslicer;

This is: donebyth'e' simpleexpe'dient of rotating the'sections' l 3 and l fl about the axisof" the rivets 38 sothat the section 1'47 assumes the'dotted line position showninFig; 3. Since the two teeth 48' of thesection" I 4 are located-ate higher. elevation than the rivets 38,, it will be seen'thatby. so rotatingth'e'section l'4to th'e "dottedline position shown-inFigJiBJi'the'twoi"teeth"48 are moved out of engagement with the" serrationsor notches 46 providedi'onithe.verticali'edgeffiilofithe ears [9 of thesection *13'; "Sincethe two teeth 48 "off the section I 4=are 'freefrom'engagem'entwith the serrations or notches 46 of the.section. 13, it will be seemthat the sctions1'3 "and'14 "ar"free"to"be .-top plate i5 of the section l3. selects one-"of-"the other"teeth or notches 46, such as the-particular notch illustrated in Figs. 3 and slid vertically relatively to each other to the extent permitted by the slots 40. Consequently, the housewife can slide the section M to the upper extremity pf the slot 40 in'which'event swinging thesection I4back from the dotted line to the full line position shown in Fig. 3 will cause the twos teeth 48 to engage the uppermost serrations or notches 46 ofthe section l3. In this position the'top' plateill-"of the section l4 will be in the mostmlosely spaced relation to the plane of the If the housewife 4. the top plates 30 and P5 of the two sections will be returned to parallel relation but at a greater vertical spacing, of their planes. Accordingly; bythe selectionofany of the notches 46 for engagement with the two -teethJZS, any. desired relative elevation' oflthe topplates I5' and"3fl of the two s'e'ctionsl3 and M can be obtained within the limits; of course, provided by the slots 4 0.

The'housewife then mounts the slicer upon the rimiof a suitable receptacle. Such a receptacle maybefurnishedwith the slicerand can be of the form shown.in.Figs.. 1 and 2; in which the generally rectangular rim of the receptacle-fits between the depending end'flanges l6 and 3| o'f .the'slic'er and in the notches or'. spaces 20, 36

providedbetweenithese depending end flanges Y andthe corresponding side'fiangesl'l, 32 thereof. If the housewife desires'to use a. smaller receptacle', such as a round orhoval' bowl, the rim of such other receptacle is caught in thenotchesiil provided in the sideifianges' 32 with the edges'5l of the-side flangesWT resting ontthe' rimin' the o posite side of suchother receptacle. Since the notchestiLare spaced a substantial distance fromlthe dependin'gend' flange 3!", it will be seen that a substantial curvature in such other receptacle is accommodated, and since the edges 5| arestraightand'parallel with the top plate l 5' it will beseen" that these edges will fit bowls 'of various sizes.

After the slicer is so fitted upon a bowl or receptaclethe whole fruit or vegetable'is placed upon the top plate 3Uof th'esection l4 andis slid back and forth longitudinally of this slicer past the cutting edge 26. Eachtiinethe whole fruit or vegetable 'moves-"againstthis cutting edge a slice is cut from the whole fruit or vegetable? the remaining body of'this wholefruit or vegetable sliding along the top surfaceof 'the'km'ves 23 and the topface'pf the top plate" I 5 of the-section l 3, these faces of the knives 23 and top plate 15 being coplanar so'as to insure free movement. Upon thereverse movement ofthewhole fruit or vegetable it is returned to engagement with the top plate as ofthe section l4; this toppla'te being '60" preferably provided with theupst'a'nding beads 31 so' asto reduce' friction b'etweenthe body of thei'fruit or'vegetable-and 'the 't'o'p' plate-3 il of the section' l i when' the body is againmoved into cutting engagement with the knive's'23.

The:-.slice-severed=from the body of'the whole [4 the top'platesfl3' and. l5 are maintained inparallelrelationwitheachothen Thisnot only facilitates the. operation of theslicer by insuring:

a smooth transfer of the body of the fruit or vegetable from the top plate 30 to the top plate I5, but also prevents any tendency to strip or rip the slice from the whole fruit or to crowd the slice under the blade or blades. As a result, the slices are easily produced in the cleanest and most appetizing form and have a uniform thickness.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a very sturdy and lowpriced slicer, particularly for fruit or vegetables in household use, which produces uniform slices of any desired thickness and which can be fitted upon any type of container which the housewife wishes to use.

I claim as my invention:

1. A slicer for fruit, vegetables and the like, comprising a body including two sections each having a top plate and integral depending side flanges interfitted with one another, one of said top plates terminating in a cutting edge opposing the other top plate, a pair of coaxial pivot pins rigidly fixed to and projecting laterally from the flanges of one of said sections into vertical slots provided in the flanges of the other section whereby said sections are pivotally connected and can be moved vertically relative to each other to vary the thickness of the slice cut from a fruit or vegetable slid back and forth on the upper surfaces of said top plates, and means remote from said pivot pins for interlatching said flanges to hold said top plates of said sections in parallel relation in difierent positions of adjustment of said pivot pins comprising a horizontal tooth on one of said flanges projecting transversely of the adjacent pivot pin and adapted to engage any one of a vertical series of opposing notches provided on the adjacent side flange of the other section.

2. A slicer for fruit, vegetables and the like, comprising a body including two sections each having a top plate and integral depending side flanges interfitted with one another, one of said top plates terminating in a cutting edge opposing the other top plate, a pair of coaxial pivot pins rigidly fixed to and projecting laterally from the flanges of one of said sections into vertical slots provided in the flanges of the other section whereby said sections are pivotally connected can be moved vertically relative to each other to vary the thickness of the slice cut from a fruit or vegetable slid back and forth on the upper surfaces of said top plates, and means remote from said pivot pins for interlatching said flanges to hold said top plates of said sections in parallel relation in different positions of adjustment of said pivot pins comprising a horizontal tooth on one of said flanges carrying a corresponding one of said pivot pins and projecting transversely of the axis thereof and adapted to engage one of a vertical series of opposing notches provided on the adjacent side flange of the other section and said tooth being arranged at a substantially higher elevation than its companion pivot pin to permit oscillation of said sections about said pivot pins to free said tooth from said notches and thereby permit vertical adjustment of said pins in said notches.

3. A slicer for fruit, vegetables and the like, comprising a body including two sections, one of said sections having a top plate terminating in a cutting edge and integral depending side flanges projecting horizontally beyond said cutting edge and provided in said projecting portions with vertical slots which aline with each other, the other of said sections being provided with a top plate having one end opposing said cutting edge and integral depending side flanges interfitting the side flanges of said first section, a pair of pins rigidly secured to the flanges of said last section and projecting into said slots and a tooth extending laterally from each of its flanges at a substantially higer elevation than said pivot pins and projecting horizontally toward the corresponding pivot pin to engage one of a vertical series of adjusting notches provided in the vertical end edge of the corresponding projecting portion of the adjacent depending side flange of said first section, said teeth permitting the opposite ends of said sections to be swung downwardly from their operative position around and relative to said pivot pins to free said tooth from engagement with said notches and thereby permit said pivot pins to be moved vertically in said slots to effect engagement of said teeth with other of said notches on restoring said sections to said operative positions.

4. A slicer for fruit, vegetables and the like, comprising a body including two sections each having a top plate and integral depending side flanges interfitted with one another, one of said top plates terminating in a cutting edge opposing the other top plate, a pair of coaxial pivot pins rigidly fixed to and projecting laterally from the flanges of one of said sections into vertical slots provided in the flanges of the other section whereby said sections are pivotally connected and can be moved vertically relative to each other to vary the thickness of the slice cut from a fruit or vegetable slid back and forth on the upper surfaces of said top plates, and means remote from said pivot pins for interlatching said flanges to hold said top plates of said sections in parallel relation in different positions of adjustment of said pivot pins comprising a horizontal tooth on one of said flanges carrying a corresponding one of said pivot pins and projecting transversely of the axis thereof and adapted to engage one of a vertical series of opposing notches provided on the adjacent side flange of the other section and said tooth being arranged at a substantially higher elevation than its companion pivot pin to permit oscillation of said sections about said pivot pins to free said tooth from said notches and thereby permit vertical adjustment of said pins in said notches the said side flanges of one of said sections being formed to provide opposite notches adapted to flt one side of the rim of a container on which said slicer is mounted and the said side flange of the other section being formed to provide a straight downwardly directed edge parallel with the companion top plate and adapted to rest on the other side of the rim of said container.

WALTER. L. WHEELWRIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 161,920 Witmer Apr. 13, 1875 757,360 Stevens Apr. 12, 1904 1,079,226 Emanuel Nov. 18, 1913 1,767,389 Morris June 24, 1930 2,401,668 Senkewitz June 4, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 62,545 Austria Dec. 10, 1918 

